Annapolis Jazz & Roots is launching its fifth festival on the scenic shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Events combine music, art, poetry and history on two weekends, November 6-15. Based in the maritime community of Eastport, the festival includes eight venues in nearby neighborhoods. Each has its own distinct character and charm. Festival goers can visit centuries old buildings, take in restorative bay views and stroll the tree-lined streets of the historic Maryland city.

WEEKEND ONE

Opening Night takes place Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Eastport. Jazz lovers

will appreciate how the intimacy and beautiful acoustics of the venue elevate the listening experience when the Muneer Nasser Band performs.

Trumpeter Muneer Nasser was exposed to great music by his father, jazz bassist Jamil Nasser. This concert pays homage to three legendary musicians born in 1926: John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Randy Weston. Their brave explorations led to seismic shifts in the sonic landscape and continue to resonate around the globe.

On Saturday at 11:00 a.m. visit Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library to gain new insights into slavery and indenture in colonial times. Lecturer William Kelly, Ph.D. is a research archivist and historian at the Maryland State Archives. This event concludes a Q & A and will likely lead to a lively discussion.

The second November 7 offering will be held nearby at Peerless Rens Club, an historic Black social club. Listeners will be blown away by Perkutao, a far traveled Afro Peruvian band formed in Lima, Peru! Catch shows at 4:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Food and bar beverages will be on sale.

Two amazing shows await music lovers on Sunday. At 2:00 p.m. David and Ginger Hildebrand will play colonial music on period instruments at Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis. The richly entertaining concert pays tribute to General Lafayette, the French nobleman who won American hearts for his role in the American Revolutionary War.

At 7:00 p.m. the focus shifts to modern-day America when musician Makaya McCraven appears at Maryland Hall. The drummer and composer transforms jazz through a bold blend of improvisation, hip-hop production, and global musical traditions. Purchase tickets from the venue: https://my.marylandhall.org/makayamccraven.